There is no denying the pandemic has taken its toll on British workers’ everyday lives. The home, which used to be a sanctuary for many, has turned into a battlefield between work, family, personal time and leisure. With several companies extending their remote working policies well into 2021, this shift in working patterns can also open new and exciting opportunities for employees.
While lockdown proved that working from home made many employees even more productive than being in an office, what’s at stake is sustained productivity and creativity if we continue to work from home. Introducing: the ‘workcation’. With flexibility being achievable now more than ever, employees have the exciting opportunity to upgrade their home office set-up and merge flexible working with a great getaway.
Treating oneself to a change of scenery is important for a fresh perspective. When we’re stuck in the same room for 8-12 hours, five days a week, our brains can get stale when not given fresh inputs. In fact, in Expedia’s latest ‘Work from Here’ report, it revealed more than half (55%) of British workers who currently work from home, wish they could work from a new location or holiday spot.
Out of those 2,000 adults surveyed who can or do work from home, the top feelings associated with this type of getaway were: happy; relaxed; productive and recharged. Showing the pressure of juggling work and home, the report also showed four in 10 parents would be willing to leave their family at home for a week or two to work remotely in a new location. Almost half (46%) of parents even said a workcation would improve their relationship with their children, while 42% of those polled said the same about the relationship with their significant other.
The benefits of taking a workcation can also be extended to the workforce, with over a third (35%) of employees stating it would improve their relationship with their boss. With a fresh new perspective aided by a change of scenery, productivity is potentially more likely to increase, along with higher efficiencies, greater problem solving and an improved manager/employee relationship. However, there are things to consider, when employees pitch the idea of a workcation.
- Firstly, encourage an open discussion with the employee about their plans to manage workload, ensuring a healthy work/life balance will be forefront of mind.
- Checking local laws will be important too. With each region moving at its own pace, it is important your employees are legally allowed to travel.
- Consider any projects that are mid-flow and may be potentially affected by the upheaval. The teams involved may need to manage resource to cover gaps during travel time.
- Research business-friendly hotels or holiday rentals. Concerns about a new office set-up is one of the biggest barriers of booking a workcation according to Expedia, so remind the employee to check amenities before booking. Helpful filters across hotel sites give peace of mind and ensure a lack of Wi-Fi or a poor desk set-up won’t impact your working day.
The requirement for remote working is one of the biggest shifts we have seen over the past year and as a result, there is a newfound acceptance to flexible working. This openness and recognising that it shouldn’t matter where one is based is exciting for the future of work – and most importantly, the well-being of employees.
